Consider this: Taxing decision in Camillus

Town of Camillus voters have the opportunity today to save themselves upwards of $50,000. Between noon and 8 p.m., they may vote at the Camillus Municipal Building, 4600 W. Genesee St., on whether to abolish the town office of receiver of taxes.

The last Camillus tax receiver, Patricia Fletcher, died May 21. Since then, the town held a public hearing on whether to consolidate the receiver’s administrative duties with the town clerk’s office. Afterwards, the board voted unanimously to schedule the public vote for today.

In response to a request from the town, Onondaga County Comptroller Robert Antonacci prepared a report on the proposed consolidation, affirming that taxpayers could save more than $50,000 per year. If the clerk’s office took over tax collections for the town’s 10,000-plus parcels, eliminating the need for the tax receiver’s part-time support staff as well, the savings would grow to more than $100,000.

Antonacci concluded: “We believe there is potential for sufficient enough savings to expand procedures and examine the placement of receiver duties within the clerk’s office, as has been done in other towns.” Among the communities that have combined these offices are the Buffalo-area towns of Orchard Park and Alden.

Camillus voters can set a precedent today that other towns will watch closely, with an eye to following their lead. They should do so.